A single small tomato, or four or five cherry tomatoes, can be chopped and added to a salad, a pizza topping or a recipe. Healthful tomatoes contain neither fat nor cholesterol.
Calories
Chopped tomatoes contain 16 calories per 1/2 cup, 4 mg of sodium, 3 g of carbohydrates including 2 g in the form of sugars, 1 g of fiber and less than 1 g of protein.
Nutrients
A 1/2-cup of tomatoes contains 213 mg of potassium, 10 mg of magnesium, 22 mg of phosphorus and 0.15 mg of zinc. Vitamin content includes 12 mg of vitamin C and 750 IU of vitamin A, as well as small amounts of thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin B-6.
Considerations
Eat fresh tomatoes picked at full ripeness to get the fullest benefit of tomato carotenoids, the colored pigments thought to have antioxidant properties. A 2002 study by Italian professors of nutrition of cherry tomatoes confirmed their significant quantities of ascorbic acid or vitamins C and E when ripe.
References
- USDA Nutrient Data Laboratory: Tomatoes, red, ripe, raw, year round average, .5 cup
- Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry: Nutritional Value of Cherry Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Cv. Naomi F1) Harvested at Different Ripening Stages
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamins - Dietary Health Benefits
Member Comments